Entropy: A Very Short Introduction

Entropy: A Very Short Introduction - Paperback

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Entropy: A Very Short Introduction
  • Entropy: A Very Short Introduction
Entropy: A Very Short Introduction - Paperback

Entropy: A Very Short Introduction - Paperback

by James Binney
$12.99
$12.99

Book Overview

Very Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring

Until the middle of the nineteenth century entropy and energy were confused with one another. The intellectual fog slowly cleared and now these words name subtle and powerful concepts. Most people think they know what energy is, but few could define entropy.

This Very Short Introduction traces the emergence of entropy and energy as distinct concepts, and explains how entropy spread from thermodynamics into statistical mechanics, probability theory and data science. It explains the implications of entropy for heat pumps, solar cells, carbon capture, and liquified natural gas. Quantum mechanics and gravity open new horizons for entropy, and when combined in the quantum theory of black holes, they call into question our current understanding of material reality.

ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
ISBN9780198901488
Author James Binney
PublisherOxford University Press
GenreEducation and History
FormatPaperback
PublishedDecember 2025
LanguageENG- English
Pages128
Weight1.0 lb
Target AudienceAdults
Print SizeStandard Print

Related Subjects

History Nonfiction Science

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More by James Binney

Astrophysics: A Very Short Introduction

Astrophysics: A Very Short Introduction - Paperback

Astrophysics: A Very Short Introduction - Paperback

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About James Binney

James Binney is a highly distinguished astrophysicist at Oxford University. He is head of the Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics, and has been awarded the Maxwell Medal and the Dirac Medal of the Institute of Physics. A specialist in galactic dynamics, he is the author of three widely used graduate textbooks, including The Physics of Quantum Mechanics (OUP, 2013), co-authored with David Skinner.

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